The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities announced that it had awarded Midwest BikeShare a $45,000 grant in support of planning, installing and managing shared bicycle kiosks throughout Milwaukee.

Additionally, the Milwaukee-based Brico Fund, along with other corporate supporters, said it will match the grant. That brings the total funding commitment for Midwest BikeShare to nearly $500,000.

Bruce Keyes, a lawyer and co-founder of Midwest BikeShare, said Monday that the group hopes to install 25 bike-rental kiosks and some 250 bike share bikes throughout Milwaukee by July.

Bike-share programs allow individuals to pick up a bike from any self-service bike rental kiosk and return it to any other kiosk. The program works via a daily or annual membership.

Bike sharing has been popularized in Europe, but has caught on in major cities in this country, including Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago and Des Moines.

The program also has been endorsed by the City of Milwaukee. The city's Office of Environmental Sustainability is a direct partner in the funding award.

"For the city of Milwaukee to continue to grow and be a destination for families, events and employers, we need programs like BikeShare that allow more people to enjoy our amazing city on bikes," Mayor Tom Barrett said in a statement.